Raised on a farm. Learned carpentry and worked as a carpenter rebuilding Camp Grant, IL. Also worked as carpenter in Burlington, Iowa, and New Brighton, Minn., building small arms plants.

Thoughts on the 58th Bomb Wing:

In Panama we were told we would be part of the B-29 program which meant being a member of the military to dispose of the Japanese military, which meant flying over Japan as bomber groups. What we did not know was the airplane problems we would encounter in India because of the heat -- the aircraft engines overheating, prop feathering problems, etc. We hoped to get the Japanese to surrender sooner than it happened. We, of course, did not know of the atomic bomb when we went into the unit. We knew we would be among the best possible aircraft people. Ground and flight crews were the best in the military. We were happy to get the war over with as soon as possible. I was at Iwo when the war ended. We had been on a dumbo mission which was a godsend to people in need of help. I am proud to have been a member of the 468th, 793rd Bomb Group. The 58th is a great outfit. We found that out not only during wartime, but also as a great organization since the war.